Atop the first cloud sat a tiny fishbowl. In it, a little goldfish swam around in circles. Once in a while, the fishbowl rocked slightly, as if something was pushing against it from inside, trying to get out, to break free. I switched my gaze to the second. This time, the cloud was a seemingly ordinary cloud, cotton candy in the sky. But as I stared, a dark figure leapt from behind it, and splashed back in. What was that, I wondered. So I waited. Then I saw it again. Clear as crystal this time. There it goes again, a dolphin, its sleek and shiny skin reflecting the sun's glare into my eyes, hurling into the sky. The tip of its nose seemed to touch the heavens, before gravity spoke its law, and it came diving down swiftly, graceful as a swan.
The third cloud had something sinister about it at first. As the fog surrounding it faded slowly, it revealed a portrait that told of immense sorrow. A streetlamp stood on the cloud, proud, yet its posture spoke otherwise. It arched forward, back bent, as if it had aged with the flow of time. The lamp shook in the cold breeze; you could almost hear the eerie creaking as it swung from side to side. The glow from within flickered once, twice, then it went out. The nearby ancient buildings stood, lonely. The paint was peeling off, and wooden gates that previously guarded strongholds were victims of a cruel act: the snail-paced ticking of a rusty clock in the sky that took the place of the setting sun.
Confused and bewildered, I looked toward the fourth cloud. It was another portrait. This time, a brick-red farm with an oversized roof shed was the first to catch my eye. Chickens cluttered about in search of grains; cows grazed lazily in a nearby field. A farmer was milking one of them by the sheds, and a dainty lady was hanging clothes up the clothesline. A dog appeared suddenly, its barks like enchantments that spurred the chickens to scramble about, clucking in fear and confusion. A young boy and his sister sat on the ledges surrounding the farm, pointing and laughing.
Now, the fifth cloud was a mystery. At first, I couldn't see anything. But as I squinted and searched, I caught sight of him. A little baby boy crawled above the cloud. He must be two years old, or younger, and he had handsome features. His eyes twinkled like stars, and he had skin smooth as silk. I watched on as the baby crawled about the large stretch of cotton hanging in the sky. I had a notion he was looking for something, but I didn't know what. Which sane parents would ever leave their child atop a cloud, I wondered out loud. Then, as if to answer my question, I heard a giggle. The baby had found what it was looking for. As I struggled to peek at the tiny object in his hands, I realized it was.. a lollipop?
I think I need rest, lots of it. I shook my head to clear away everything I had just seen. Or think that I had seen. As I turned to make my way into my room, I sub-consciously glanced at the sixth and final cloud. It was when I saw.. him. A young teenager was sitting at the edge of the cloud. His legs dangled in the air. Judging at how close he was near the edge, he was threatening to fall off anytime as he stared into thin air. Looking closer, he had a lollipop in his mouth. What is it with lollipops these da.. I couldn't finish my sentence as it hanged broken in the air. That boy over there, he looked familiar. Too familiar. He wore a pair of glasses, his hair wasn't tidy, but neither was it too messy. He has this thing about him that reminds me of.. Hey! Isn't that shirt what I'm wearing now? And those jeans!
No, it couldn't be..
Atop that final cloud, is that really.. me?
posted by cigarettelove @ 7:07 AM
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